A header for a heat exchanger and method for cleaning a heat exchanger in a loop without disconnecting loop components is provided. The header is in flow communication with the heat exchanger for distributing fluid through a plurality of adjacent channels. The header is connected between a main heat exchanger inlet nozzle and a channel flow distributor. A filter element is disposed within the header between the nozzle and channel flow distributor. Under normal operation, the filter element removes particulates and fouling material from the main flow stream before it enters the heat exchanger channels. During the cleaning process, fluid is injected on or through the filter element to remove particulates and fouling material through at least one outlet port. The header arrangement allows the filter element to be cleaned in place without draining the system and disconnecting the heat exchanger or other components from the flow loop.

A fluid cleaning apparatus including: a first volume comprising a first inlet through which a first fluid is introduced and a first outlet through which the first fluid is discharged; a second volume comprising a second inlet through which a second fluid is introduced and a second outlet through which the second fluid is discharged; and a rotating wheel which is provided with a filter for filtering the first fluid, and rotatably positioned within the first volume and the second volume in a direction perpendicular to a flow direction of the first fluid or the second fluid, wherein foreign matter filtered while the first fluid passes through the filter in the first volume is discharged through the second outlet while the second fluid passes through the filter in the second volume, as the rotating wheel rotates.

An appliance includes a filter housing having a filter chamber between a fluid inlet and outlet. A fluid filter is within the filter chamber and has a base and a particulate collector attached via a biasing mechanism that biases the particulate collector toward a filtering position. Operation of a fluid pump directs fluid from the fluid inlet and through a filter media of the particulate collector that biases the particulate collector away from the filtering position. The filter media separates particulate matter from the fluid. When the filter media is impacted by an amount of the captured particulate, the fluid creates a pressure differential that overcomes the biasing mechanism and biases the particulate collector to a bypass position that directs the fluid around an outside surface of the particulate collector and to the fluid outlet.

A filtration system using lightweight fibrous media (LFM) filter balls that are pre-compressed into an intermediary vessel or element before placing into an outer pressure-holding housing and where the LFM filter balls can be removed periodically to allow separation and relaxation of the media for cleaning. A plurality of lightweight fibrous media balls is pre-compressed at a predetermined ratio of compression and packing density inside their intermediary vessel or element before installation into an outer housing capable of holding pressures of a water flow, thereby forming a single filter mass providing multitudes of tortuous paths through which water can flow and the filter media can capture small particulate matter to reduce turbidity and other water-borne particulate contaminants.